Holder for toothbrush and dentifrice



Feb. 20, 1945. c, BROWN HOLDER FOR TOOTHBRUSH AND DENTIFRICE Filed Aug. 26, 1943 INVENTOR, FBmW/z Patented Feb. 20, 1945 HOLDER FOR TOOTHBRUSH AND DENTIFRICE Cecil F. Brown, Kansas City, Mo.

Application August 26, 1943, Serial No. 500.168

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a holder for a toothbrush and a dentifrice that is adapted to be clipped to the pocket of a garment.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a holder for tooth brush and a dentifrice that is inexpensive to manufacture, sim ple and compact, and adapted to securely close the dentifrice-containing compartment whenever the tooth brush is in position.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a holder for a tooth brush and a dentifrice, including a barrel divided to form a tooth brush handle receiving compartment and a dentiirioe receiving compartment, a closure for said dentifrice compartment, and resilient means operable by the insertion of the tooth brush in said compartment to place said resilient means under tension to secure the closure in the closed position a further object of the invention is the provision of a holder for tooth brush and dentifrice that is ventilated and adapted to be clipped to the pocket of a garment.

Other objects will appear during the course of the specification, referring to the drawing, wherein:

Figure l is an elevation of a holder for a tooth brush and a. dentifrice embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the holder, with the tooth brush in position.

Fig. 3 is a disassembled sectional view of the holder, with the dentifricecompartment closure shown in the open position in dotted lines.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view showing the tooth brush handle in position to be inserted in the barrel.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view, taken on line V-V of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a. cross sectional view, taken on line VI-VI of Fig. 2.

Figs. '7 and 8 are of a modified form of the holder, wherein the barrel is of circular cross section and provided with screw threads for receiving the cap, and,

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view of a modified form of the barrel, wherein the same is substantially rectangular.

In the drawing like reference characters designate similar parts, and the numeral I0 is a barrel, preferably molded of a, suitable material, such as plastic or hard rubber, with a longitudinal partition l2 to divide said barrel into a tooth brush handle receiving compartment I4 and a dentifrice receiving compartment IS. The handle receiving compartment is made to substantially conform to the cross sectional contour of the brush handle and should be smaller than compartment l6, which is adapted to receive a tooth powder or a small tube'of tooth paste. A closure 18, hinged at 20 by means of pintle 22. extending into ears 24 whichare integral with the barrel l0, serves to close the dentifrice compartment.

A flat spring member 26, carried by closure l8 and secured thereto by rivet 28, extends above said closure with one end portion 30 thereof in the path of the tooth brush handle. The other end portion 32 of spring 26 is projected through an opening 34 through the closure 18 and is formed to extend outwardly to contact the inner wall of It and exert a pressure thereagainst to prevent accidental opening of said closure.

By referring to Fig. 4, it will be observed that the upper portion 30 of spring 26 normally extends in the path of the handle 36, so that when said handle is being inserted in compartment IE. it will force 30 inwardly, thereby exerting a pressure against the closure I8 to definitely hold the same closed. regardless of the position in which the holder might be placed. When the brush is completely inserted, as shown in Fig. 2, the upper portion 30 of spring 26 will rest in a recess 38 formed in the brush handle, thereby maintaining the brush in position in the holder until a sufiicient force is exerted to withdraw it therefrom. This spring 26, therefore, functions to secure the closure IS in the closed position when the brush is removed and also when the brush is in position in the holder it secures it therein and exerts an added tension against the closure to hold it in the closed position.

A cap 40 is adapted to snugly fit over the open end of barrel in to rest against a shoulder 42 formed thereon. This cap serves as ahousing for the bristles of the tooth brush 44 which extend over the closure l8. Perforations 46 allow for a circulation of air to facilitate the dry ing of the brush. A clip 48, secured to the cap 40, is adapted for securing the holder to the pocket of a garment.

Referring now to Figs. 7 and 8, it will be noted that the only material difference shown in this modified form is the cross sectional shape of the barrel and cap, which are of cylindrical form. With this form of barrel, it is convenient to provide threads 50 on the barrel, with corresponding threads 52 on the cap 40, thus making it possible to definitely interengage the parts.

The modified form shown in Fig. 9 is of a barrel of rectangular cross sectional area. It is very apparent that many other shapes might be employed in the construction of this holder without departing from the spirit of the invention. In the operation of this device, the cap I is first removed, then the tooth brush handle 38 is pulled from compartment l4, thereby exposing the upper end 80 of spring 26 so that the operator may press thereagainst and open the closure I 8, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3. The powder may then be deposited on the brush or the paste-containing tube may be removed for applying the dentifrice to the brush.' When the cleaning operation is completed, the closure 18 is moved to the closed position, the brush handle inserted, and the cap again positioned.

It is apparent that I have produced a very simple and efficient toothbrush holder which is easy to manipulate and one that contains all the necessary equipment for cleaning the teeth.

What I claim is:

1. A holder for a toothbrush and a dentifrice. comprising a barrel divided longitudinally to form a toothbrush handle receiving compartment and a dentifrice receiving compartment; a closure for said dentifrice compartment; and resilient means carried by said closure and extended partially over said toothbrush handle compartment to engage a brush handle extending from said handle compartment, whereby said means is secured under tension between said handle and said closure.

2. A holder for a toothbrush and a dentifrice comprising a barrel divided longitudinally to form a toothbrush handle receiving compartment and a dentifrice receiving compartment; a closure for said dentifrice receiving compartment; and an elongated resilient member attached to said closure and having one end thereof formed and positioned to resiliently engage the wall of said barrel to secure the closure in the closed position and having the other end thereof positioned partially above said handle compartment and adapted to rest against the brush handle to urge said closure to the closed position.

3. The combination with a toothbrush having a handle with a recess formed therein, of a holder comprising a barrel divided longitudinally to form a toothbrush handle receiving compartment and a dentifrice receiving compartment; a closure for said dentifrice receiving compartment; a resilient member carried by said closure and having an end portion formed to rest in said handie recess under tension, thereby securing said brush in its compartment.

4. The combination with a toothbrush having a handle with a recess formed therein, of a holder comprising a barrel divided longitudinally to form a toothbrush handle receiving compartment and a dentifrice receiving compartment; a closure for said dentifrice compartment; a resilient member rigidly attached to said closure with its one end positioned to rest against said handle under tension whereby said closure is held in the closed position so long as the brush is in position in the holder.

5. The combination with a toothbrush having a handle, of a holder comprising a barrel divided longitudinally to form a toothbrush handle receiving compartment and a dentifrice receiving compartment; a closure for said dentifrice compartment; a resilient member secured to said closure and having an end portion formed to rest against said handle under tension whereby said closure is held in the closed position so long as the brush is in position in said handle compartment.

6. A holder for a toothbrush and a dentifrice, comprising a barrel divided longitudinally to form a toothbrush handle receiving compartment and a dentifrice receiving compartment; a 010- sure for said dentifrice receiving compartment; and resilient member secured to said closure and having an end portion disposed in the path of insertion of the toothbrush handle adapted to be positioned by the insertion of a handle in said handle compartment to exert a pressure against said closure to maintain the same in the closed position.

'7. A holder for a. toothbrush and a dentifrice, comprising a barrel divided longitudinally to form a toothbrush handle receiving compartment and a dentifrice receiving compartment; a closure for said dentifrice receiving compartment; and a resilient member secured intermediate its ends to said closure and having one end thereof formed and positioned to engage the wall of said barrel to secure the closure in the closed posi-- tion and having the other end thereof positioned above said closure and in the path of insertion of the toothbrush handle and adapted to rest against a brush handle extending from said handle compartment and exert a closing pressure against said closure.

CECIL F. BROWN. 

